Acupuncture & TCM at Bankstown Health

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) includes a range of therapies such as Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Cupping, Moxibustion (Moxa), Electro-acupuncture, dietary advice, QiGong and Tuina massage. A TCM practitioner will often use a combination of these therapies.

The origins of Chinese Medicine in China can be traced back at least 5000 years; and today it is practiced worldwide. In Australia, TCM Practitioners must be registered with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (CMBA) of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Selecting a practitioner who is also accredited with the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association Ltd. (AACMA) provides an additional layer of safety and quality assurance. AACMA members are held to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct.

Traditional Chinese medicine philosophy is based on the concept of the body’s vital ‘energy’, or Qi. When Qi is disrupted or depleted, and this may happen due to stress, overwork, poor diet or other factors; the balance of bodily functions is upset and illness results. The practice of traditional Chinese medicine treats the person as a whole, believing that the mind, body and spirit are intrinsically linked to health.

By inserting thin, sterile needles in the acupuncture points, the practitioner is encouraging the movement of Qi, and the body’s own healing mechanisms to restore balance.

Chinese herbal medicine involves the use of substances from nature to regulate and normalise body function. Modern Chinese herbal medicines are available in a raw state, powdered form, pills, tablets, capsules, tinctures, ointments, and plasters. All manufactured medicines in Australia are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which ensures compliance with strict requirements on safety, quality and that the product is legally able to be supplied in Australia.

Traditional Chinese medicine effectively treats a wide range of conditions, from musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal issues to mental health, stress, reproductive and gynaecological concerns. Depression, headaches, morning sickness, and sciatica are just some of the many other conditions that are effectively treated by acupuncture.